A quick but urgent formatting question

[Fresie]

Hi guys,

It's not for me, but currently I'm helping a friend with translating her published ms into English. We've just finished the first 50 pages, and tomorrow she wants to take it to some sort of publishing fair in England. My question is, do you need to mark somewhere on the partial that it's a partial?


Like, NAME OF STORY
A novel by Ms. Foreigner
(first fifty pages)

or something similar?

Thank you!

Fresie

[triceretops]

I take it your friend is going to try and place that partial with an interested agent or publisher at the fair? That's very innovative, and I hadn't thought of that. Since the manuscript is not solicited from a query, I imagine it wouldn't hurt to felt-pen such a declartion on the envelope (down in the lower left-hand corner). However, due to its thin 50-page appearance, I would also think that it would be rather obvious. But it could be mistaken for a long story or novella. Also, such information should be in the cover letter--which is just a fast, complimentary intro letter on top of the partial. I would try both--outside of envelope and on the cover letter, just so there's no mistake about it.

That was a very difficult question to answer--I've never heard of that before.

Triceratops

[TashaGoddard]

It's probably too late, now, but also you/she probably already know this. If it's been published already elsewhere (where? in what language?) this is important information to include. What volume of sales have been achieved (especially in relation to the population of the country where it was published)? Are there any reviews? I assume you have translated the synopsis, or at the very least the blurb. In that, you should include your thoughts on what makes it suitable for the UK/English-speaking market as well as the original market. Also, she should make sure she targets the write publishers at the fair (is it the LBF - that's not until 13-15 March, in which case there's time to get it right in advance? If it's not, maybe she should hang around and go to that too?)

I hope she has a successful trip!

[Fresie]

Oh fabulous, thank you so much, guys!

The novel in question is Dutch, an award-winning bestseller (her second, and the third one is coming out soon) that's really received tons of positive reviews. So I'll let her and her publisher know this (the Dutch publishing system differs a lot from the English-language one). Cover letter, sales numbers, reviews, demagraphic, all that.

No, it's not LBF, it's something this Friday.

Thanks again!!